“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”
Anthony J. D’Angelo
The last few weeks of summer are melting away all too quickly; the stores are rolling out colorful folders and fresh, unused notebooks waiting to be filled with class notes and assignments. Teachers are painstakingly preparing rooms and homeschooling mamas are diligently laying out their lesson plans for the new academic year. All for the love and duty of learning.
School has never been about socializing or sports (despite what students sometimes prioritize). Our current public education system was originally put in place to institutionalize what has long been a prized treasure for societies: the gift of learning.
To learn was to grow as a person, to move up in society, to be able to help others, to have wisdom in relationships and skills for a job.
When those in power wanted to stifle groups of people, they often withheld education– blocking them from learning to read and write as those were the primary methods of growing and moving up in society.
The Bible talks favorably about the power and benefit of learning. Jesus was a master story-teller and teacher, communicating Truth to people that would change them forever. He met with many during his ministry and challenged them with parables, hard questions and self-reflection. Some heard and heeded, others went away with hard hearts.
In Proverbs 9:9, it says, “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.”
How we respond to teaching will determine how we will grow. It takes humility to be taught, and that’s the reason many people stay stagnant in their lives.
How do we maintain a teachable spirit so that God can grow us into who we are called to be?
A teachable spirit is marked by humility.
We must have a humble spirit and remember that we are nothing without God’s grace; He is the vine and we are the branches. Without Him, we can do nothing. We must humble ourselves towards the body of Christ, our spouses and even our children. (They have lots to teach us if we will listen.) The Israelites hardened their hearts many times to the prophets, and suffered greatly because of their refusal to humble themselves and listen.
God can speak through a donkey.
We must be willing to hear the prompting and gentle correction of the Holy Ghost through anyone. Truly, our children can teach us things, new converts can teach us things. I have learned more about the grace and love of God through my short years as a mother than I did in my lifetime of reading the Word and attending church. God can use anyone to teach us and bring things to our understanding. (But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost…he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26)
Let our children not be the only ones learning this year. What wisdom and clarity does God have for you? How can you grow in the last half of 2025 towards the woman God has called you to be? Your future, in God’s hands, is bright. The place and purpose He has for you is truly great. We won’t get there on our own understanding. (Prov. 3:5-6) We must tune our ears to Him with humble hearts and let him direct our paths. He will teach us through many people and situations, and we must maintain humility and recognize His hand in it.
